The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-09-30
NEITHER ENMITY NOR FAYORIT-
ISM.

The HERALD does not understand
that there Is any intention to declare
war against the Union Pacific Railway
Company. We do not understand that
the community is arrayed against that
company. nor that anybody proposes
or desires conflict with the great cor
poration. We certainly do not under
stand that the purpose is to hurt the
o. P. and help another carrying COM
pany. On the contrary the public is
quite as friendly towards the Union
Pacific as towards its less pretentious
rival. AS between the two railroads in
the matter of their regard for Utah and
Utah people, there is no choice. Both
have and will "cinch" the public;
neither will be liberal when it pays bet
ter to be otherwise; as such things go.
both are equally "soulless," equally
grasping and greedy; neither has the
advantage of the other, and nobody
need expect favors from one if it is not
to the interest of the company to grant
them. This Chamber of Commerce and
popular movement, therefore, should no
be regarded as an expression of hatred of
the Union Pacific and of friendship for
the Denver & Rio Grande. 1t IS any
thing but that. The situation is this:
The Union Pacific Company has from
the day its first train was sent out,
Disseminated against Utah. 1t has
had no love for this Territory, and no
regard for the rights of our people. Its
efforts and energies have all been
directed towards building up other
places to the neglect of Utah. Instead
of msnifesting kindly interest in our
material welfare, the company has
cared nothing for US. or has actually
worked against local development and
progress by outrageously unjust dis
elimination in its rates. It is hardly
necessary to cite instances, as the facts
are familiar to all, and have been re-
peatedly confessed by the railway peo-
pie themselves. The result is, that
while other sections have been built up
by the company's consideration and fair
ness, local development and improve
ment have been retarded. Agriculture
here is not what it should be and would |
have been, because the Union Pacific |
has given the advantage to Nebraska.
Iowa and Kansas; manufacture has
been kept back because the railway
would not admit it to fair competition;
mining is held down by excessive |
freight charges. and even passenger
rates have been arranged so as to dis
courage immigration to Utah and en-
courage it at other places. THERE'S not |
an intelligent man anywhere at all
familiar with the facts, but will say
that had Utah been treated fairly by
the Union Pacific and placed on an
equal footing with other States and
Territories tributary to the railway,
this Territory would to-day be far in
advance of her present position in mat
ters of population, development and
wealth.
Our people think the time has come
when they can demand and bring
about a change of policy on the part
of the Union Pacific. We believe
we possess sufficient power and influ-
ence to compel respectful and intelli-
gent consideration of our reasonable re-
quest, We assume that We are closely
enough united to practically act as one
in this matter, and thus command all
the strength there is in unity. If our
estimate is wrong, If there has been a
mIsealculstioR, there will be failure, and
things may continue as they have been
running so long. But we do not believe
there has been an overestimate, wrong
calculation, and do believe that success
will soon reward the well directed eff
forts.
The Union Pacific need not feel that
any undue advantage has been taken of
it; it need not feel, as some have as
sured, that this movement has been
worked up in the interest of the rival
road, that it is scheme to turn the
community against the U. P, and in
favor of the D. & r. G. Neither enmity
toward one nor friendship for the
other, has anything to do with what
has been done. The Union Pacific
may readily satisfy itself of the truth of
this by giving the matters complained
of considerable and conceding the
fair and reasonable request which is
made for just treatment. The discon-
tinuance of the conceded discrimina-
ton against this Territory will at once
put stop to the movement against the
Union Pacific, which movement was
inaugurated and is being managed. not
with the view TO aiding the D. & R. 6.
at the expense OF the other. bat TO com
pei the Union Pacific to be fair and just